GotCast.com Founder Alec Shankman Featured in LA Business Journal

Congrats to EKC client Alec Shankman on his recent feature in the Los Angeles Business Journal! Read the article below:

Alec Shankman: The Real Deal

Midwest transplant Alec Shankman launched a casting site for reality TV hopefuls after working as an agent for some of the genre’s star

by Natalie Jarvey

When Alec Shankman came to Los Angeles in his early 20s, he quickly became a force in reality television as head of alternative programming at Abrams Artists Agency, representing such reality stars as Mystery, star of VH1’s “The Pickup Artist,” and Chad Rodgers, star of Bravo’s “Million Dollar Listing.” He used the expertise he developed in that world to transition from show business to technology as chief executive of GotCast, which combines reality show casting with social networking – wannabe stars create profiles and hope they’ll win the most votes in casting competitions. Shankman had started in the business world with a cologne line in his native Ohio, then took a stab at nightclub promoting there. With a friend, Wil Schroter, he launched his own club, Status, and auto leasing website Swapalease, then headed West. Schroter followed and launched GotCast. Shankman recently sat down with the Business Journal in office space they share with another startup off Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade to chat about discovering Mystery for “The Pickup Artist,” failing his motorcycle driving test, and how his mom regularly flies here from Ohio and can often be found making breakfast for Shankman and his three brothers at the Beverly Hills home they share.

Question: Did you have an interest in Hollywood and celebrities growing up?

Answer: Absolutely. One of my best friends and next-door neighbor growing up was a kid named Dino Rinaldo, and his father, Lil’ John, was a local celebrity in Cleveland for a show he co-hosted called “The Big Chuck and Lil’ John Show.” Spending a lot of my childhood with their family introduced me to the ’biz at a young age and I was hooked.

Who were your celebrity idols when you were young?

Two people come to mind: Jim Brickman and Michael Eisner. Jim is a musician from Cleveland who made the move to L.A. and became a pretty big star in adult contemporary music. Michael Eisner always inspired me because of his incredible journey that ultimately took him to mogul status in Hollywood. I read multiple books about him when I was growing up.

Have you met them?

I met Jim a few years after moving to L.A. and actually became his agent for a while, representing him for his TV work as a host. And I ended up in the same room as Michael Eisner at an exclusive party in L.A. It made me feel like I had made it. (read more...)

GotCast Partners with NBC for Talent Search

Congrats to EKC friend Alec Shankman, CEO of GotCast.com, for signing a deal with NBC to power the company's fifth annual "Stand Up for Diversity" talent search. The leading online casting platform will help NBC find comedians of diverse backgrounds. The winner will receive a talent holding deal with NBC, and gain access to talent bookers for the Tonight Show, Last Coming Standing and more.

Sounds exciting! Congrats, Alec!

GotCast's Alec Shankman Talks About Hollywood & Technology

Alec Shankman, CEO of GotCast.com and client of EKC, was recently interviewed by SoCalTech.com. Alec talks about how he started the leading online interactive casting platform, and shares his thoughts about the intersection of Hollywood and technology:

At a high level, what does Gotcast do?

Alec Shankman: Gotcast is the largest online interactive casting platform. We basically open up the casting business ranging from regionalized projects to studio films, to the rest of the country, allowing them to submit themselves and get their own fan base involved in securing roles.

What's your background and how did you start Gotcast?

Alec Shankman: I moved here from Ohio in 2003. I immediately started at a company called Abrams Artist Agency, where I started the Alternative Programing Department, which I subsequently ran for nearly seven years. I represented TV hosts, broadcast journalists, radio DJs, TV producers, and as time went on and reality TV got a little more bizarre, I was repping experts out there, like the Pickup Artists on VH1, the Deadliest Catch fishermen, the Bravo's Million Dollar Listing-type experts out there, and it just helped me realized there were a need for interesting experts, like carpenters, etc. But, there was no good way for Hollywood to find them. I got to talking with Wil Schroter, who was an old business associate of mine and old friend, and we thought it could be very interesting to create a place where Hollywood could reach out to find people. It actually has been working very well. People who are agents, like I used to be, and producers, casting directors, etc.--they're now finding talent all over the country. We have amazing testimonials for people getting hired--like E! News, ABC competition game shows, feature films, etc.--people around the country who otherwise would never have a shot. (read more...)